Paws

Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he’s devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park . . . right?

The author based her story on real-life experience. After adopting a spoodle called Claude, he made an immediate bond with her youngest autistic son. He seemed to sense that her son needed someone to help him always feel safe and calm. Claude knew when he was sad or stressed or anxious and would become a barrier, sitting close by, even standing over him, and comforting him. A story that demonstrates how autistic brains don’t always come with the templates of human interaction and emotion that neurotypical people usually have. And shows how many autistic people have to build these from scratch, learning through mirroring and masking and often hard emotional lessons and confusing rejection.

“This story has such great heart with the underlying theme of the importance of quality relationships in Alex's life. There are lovely moments throughout of the unconditional love and comfort of his pet dog, the kindness and understanding of some of his classmates and teachers, and the acceptance and friendship of a new neighbour. So, despite the challenges that autism presents for Alex, his family and friends, there is a focus on the positive attributes he has as a person, especially with the right support and understanding around him. I strongly recommend this book for anyone over the age of nine as a great fictional read that skilfully incorporates knowledge and understanding around the topic of autism.”

This story has such great heart with the underlying theme of the importance of quality relationships in Alex’s life. There are lovely moments throughout of the unconditional love and comfort of his pet dog, the kindness and understanding of some of his classmates and teachers, and the acceptance and friendship of a new neighbour. So, despite the challenges that autism presents for Alex, his family and friends, there is a focus on the positive attributes he has as a person, especially with the right support and understanding around him. I strongly recommend this book for anyone over the age of nine as a great fictional read that skilfully incorporates knowledge and understanding around the topic of autism. CBCA: Reading Time
I loved its honest, perceptive portrayal of Alex, his challenges with autism and the story’s gentle and positive resolution. Wonderfully insightful, it will definitely strike a chord with confident, independent readers ages 9 and up and make for a satisfying read-aloud story for the classroom. Readings
Filled with emotion and friendship, PAWS is a must read for all ages! The Book Muse
PAWS is a touching story about neurodiversity and autism and what it is like for neurodiverse people navigating a world that isn’t created for them. The Book Muse
From the first page, Paws draws you in to this amazing representation of what it is like at Alex's point of the Austism Spectrum... Bookish Intoxication

Kate works as a literary agent and writes children's books about friends, family, and dogs. Originally from the south east of England, she now lives on the beautiful Gold Coast in Australia with her family and rescue dogs. She loves eating cake, reading books, and watching cooking programmes on TV!

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